By Josh Williams
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
CENTRAL PARK— It was naked ambition which tempted 500 legal streakers to bare almost all in Central Park.
The Jamaican Underwear Run brought athletes — and exhibitionists — to race 1.7 miles through the park dressed only in their briefs.
And leading the event was New York's most famous model of tighty whities — the Naked Cowboy.
The run last year set the world reecord for the greatest number of people gathered in their underwear when 448 people turned out.
This year was expected to top that.
The female winner was April Harris, 31, who lives in East Harlem and is also racing in Sunday's New York City Triathlon.
"I'm a runner, but this is festive and it's part of the tradition (of the New York City Triathlon)," said Harris, who had to elbow the Naked Cowboy out her way at the start.
"Running in your underwear is different because people are staring at you and taking your picture so you try and run really fast."
Matt Dunham won for the men, and was greeted with Jamaican music played by Jam-X. He won a pair of fancy Nautica boxers.
Larry Eisenburg, 70, was running with eight other family members and friends.
"I always run in my underwear," he joked. "Only this time I am doing it with a blue wig on."
The event was hosted by Nautica, which is also holding the triathlon on Sunday. Earlier in the week, the company organized a baby race called the Diaper Derby.
abrady | July 17, 2010